Women (in Texas) must submit to cavity search for smoking cigarettes and might have tossed their butts out the window. Littering is one thing, it should not lead up to a full body and cavity search on the side of the road.

Tuesday January 15, 2013, 6:14 pm
Kit B. had given this as just a video to view on her messages, but I think it's too important not to place on the news.
This should have every American upset, this could be your daughter, wife, sister, or Mother. Being subjected to a full cavity search.....on the side of the road! In view of passing traffic and people standing watching! For tossing out a cigarette butt, and even if it was marijuana, this is still way over the top! I hope they win a BIG lawsuit! Good for them for standing up to this.

Yes, I did post that on the Caturday News that I send out to friends. I do hope more people will view it. This is a complete outrage, and the police involved conducted themselves (as shown on the video) as if they were some Internet stereo type for Bad Cops. Unfortunately, this is Texas and the chances of winning a case or making a public statement by suing the County or the state will not have a positive out come.

Tuesday January 15, 2013, 7:55 pm
I'm glad you brought it to my attention Kit. This is the type of ongoing disrespect that the citizens are getting in this Country. Way too many people have allowed intrustion onto their person for no other reason then they exist. They have not been tried for a crime, they are guilty of what? Littering maybe, and one should be searched like this on the side of the road?!!!

We ride an airplane and too many people lined up and quietly allowed themselves to be groped in full view of others standing in line when there are far better and proven methods.

Is this false safety worth the loss of our rights, our dignity, and our respect? But as long as the masses comply like nice little lemmings then this will go on and on in more and more areas of our lives. Now they are talking about bus stations and rail. It will never end until We The People put a Stop to it!

Tuesday January 15, 2013, 7:57 pm
Finally Kit has something of value to post especially in the form of youtube which she thinks is not credible. But government can violate your rights this way and also want to disarm you!
TY Dandelion for this.

Tuesday January 15, 2013, 8:31 pm
One right's whittled away at a time, we're supposed to endure it, as if its our patriotic duty.
are Americans the most pacified obedient little citizens in the world?
I hope these women sue for millions and make it BIG news .

Tuesday January 15, 2013, 9:00 pm
I can't see them getting the justice they deserve. But if they don't pay in this world, let them do so in the next. I just can't believe they can get away with these things now.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 1:11 am
WTF?????!!!! I feel nauseated! What on earth is happening in Texas? Oh Kit I feel for you so much living there - I know it can't all be like that but oh dear I feel sick! (And I don't drink, and have never smoked or taken drugs)... I agree with Devon - how about a petition? I'd happily sign!

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 1:40 am
Absolutely disgusting!!! Kit I hope you are wrong about the law suit going nowhere. These women deserve some measure of justice and if the only measure of justice is in a BIG sum of money, so be it. It doesn't though make up for the humiliation on the side of the road.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 4:27 am
It does not matter whether this happened in Texas, Tokio or Timbuktu. What was done to these women was just plain invasion of privacy in a public place and with the same glove. This is just outrageous. I hope these ladies take this as far as they possibly could. This is really just plain disgusting.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 5:10 am
I saw this via Kit the other day. My jaw just about dropped on the floor.
Could not believe this kind of search was done for just flicking a ciggie out the window.
I do want these two women to win their case in suing those officers and their police department.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 6:18 am
Over the past several years, courts have been granting police more and more power to conduct searches of individuals who are accused of even trivial offenses. In one case, Atwater v. City of Lago Vista , the Supreme Court ruled that people can be ARRESTED and held in jail for even minor traffic violations, such as running a stop sign, changing lanes without signaling, or speeding 1 mph over the limit. Once in jail, the Supreme Court ruled that the police are free to conduct strip searches AND CAVITY searches to detect contraband and dangerous materials thanks to a case called Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders of County of Burlington

So in these cases - even if a woman does not consent to such a search, the officer could legally conduct a cavity search. The officer would have gotten away with it if they arrested both women for littering, checked them into jail, and then conducted strip / cavity searches.

With that being said, the police can be held accountable for battery (even sexual battery) in instances where they conduct an unreasonable search, exceed their authority, or act without consent.

The ONLY thing that is allowing the women here to proceed forward with a lawsuit is that the police failed to arrest the women and did not conduct the strip / cavity search in the relative privacy of the jail.

Given by an~Attorney~from Reddit

The more conservative our Country becomes so do our Courts and as our Courts become more conservative so is our Country in which we all live in.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 6:21 am
Sylvia, I hear you. In this case the women don't live in Texas they were traveling through Texas to another State destination. I'm sure they are glad they don't live in Texas, .....sorry Kit. I feel for you. I'm sure things like this are not good for the tourist industry of Texas.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 7:26 am
Saw this from the 'Caturday News' from Kit, and so glad that it's been posted. I'm embarrassed to be living in a state of the 'Good Ole Boys' where this actually goes on.!! I have a family member who drives from Calli to TX., every now and then, and I sent this to her. Her reply?? Can't post it here, but needless to say...I am glad that they (the women) in the video are suing. Unreal.!! And...question here....as Gloria states in her comment above, is this RAPE?? by physical contact.? I think it is too.!! Thanks all.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 7:43 am
I tend to agree with Gloria and Pat, after all we HAVE heard of rape cases where a finger penetration was involved! Here that was undoubtedly exceeding their authority, given the circumstances, as Sheryl explained.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 7:46 am
oh yes, and many thanks for telling us about Susan's petition, will definitely sign! (please everyone, make sure you use your REAL NAMES only when signing petitions!)

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 10:05 am
Truly, the most disgusting thing I have heard of our law enforcement gestapo doing in at least a week. No one should submit to such cruel and inhumane degradation. Would you stand by and do nothing while they did that to your daughter? Hell no.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 11:15 am
Thanks for the reminder on that Angelika as I forget myself sometimes, ever since C2 has changed things it has become much more of a pain that way. Don't know why they have to fix that which is not broken.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 11:39 am
As Susan V. usually just posts petitions without a newspost for them and we know that (unfortunately!) only few people read the entire thread, that petition hot link should be repeated here regularly. It's doing great, she might even lift the goal to 15K.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 3:19 pm
TEXAS a great State to be FAR from. In any other circumstance the troopers would be charging the Perpetrators with colluding in a sexual assault. This is no different.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 4:34 pm
I'd read about this some weeks ago, and am glad to see it posted here....much thanks, Dandelion! Have also signed petition...again, thanks. I thought about what response I would've had if that had happened to me. I can't imagine myself allowing anyone to even touch me...would've fought back so hard I probably would've been smacked or tasered....and gone to jail. Same is true for the airport "security" which I why I'm not flying either.
I hope there are huge groups of women in TX that rally around this in protest, and support these two women.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 5:03 pm
This action was totally uncalled for and I hope the women sue the crap out of them. I did sign a petition a couple of weeks ago on this. It is disgusting and should not happen to any woman.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 8:21 pm
You are most correct MJ M. After all, the suspected cigarette butts then led to maybe marijuana smoke was then smelled. Suspected and maybe, in the war on drugs all leads to the right to do cavity searches on the side of the road. It another citizen did this to these women it would called an assault or even rape, but as they had badges on somehow they feel they have the right.....after all potential marijuana.....oh my goodness, the crime of crimes. War on drugs opens many doors and rights go out the window.

Wednesday January 16, 2013, 9:20 pm
I hope these women in the whole state of Texas. Surely something must be done to these officers. When are we going to stand up and say NO to these humiliations we are being forced to endure since Homeland Security and the Patriot act were passed?

Thursday January 17, 2013, 1:40 am
WT???? I would of never thought this was going on in Texas. I must be living under a frigging ROCK. If any of my friends drive through there I will make sure they have a tazer and a baseball bat!

Thursday January 17, 2013, 7:15 am
I hope those flaming perverts don't get away with it.
@ Stan B.:To expect this in Cairo is a racist thing to say. I very well know how much you hate Arabs, you show that in every possible way.

Thursday January 17, 2013, 7:29 am
Thank you everyone for your comments and awareness of what is going on. Yes, our Homeland Security under the Patriot Act has made things worse for all of us in this Country. One must remember however, it has never been an easy life for those of color and minorities, the complaints that they had for many years now has morphed over into the entire population. The statement In Solidarity is exactly that, we must stand next to our brothers and sisters of all racial and ethnic heritages making this a more humane and just society for each of us, no matter who we are.

Update:
After the Dec. 17 filing, trooper Kelley Helleson was reportedly two days later suspended with pay. The suit accused that she “used her fingers to search their anuses and vaginas — using the same latex glove — while on the side of the road in full view of passing vehicles.”

DPS announced last week that trooper David Farrell, the officer initiating the traffic stop, was also suspended with pay effective Dec. 21. In addition to Helleson and Farrell, the suit also names Steven McCraw, the director of the Department of Public Safety.

Terming the incident (throwing cigarette butts out the window) a Class C misdemeanor, the womens attorney Charles Soechting Jr said it justifies no “type of pat-down, let alone an invasive search of cavities of women.”

Thursday January 17, 2013, 9:54 am
"WE ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING OUR RIGHTS VIOLATED". This is becoming more of the norm than the exception which is what is TERRIFYING. Thank you Kit, and of course Dandelion for posting as I missed Kit's Caturday news only having the time to listen to her radio show.

Thursday January 17, 2013, 9:58 am
I just HAVE to mention that DISRESPECTING COMMENTS-Julian-ARE NOT APPRECIATED BY MANY OF US. I happen to then Kit's news is MOST IMPORTANT, INFORMATIVE, (and often quite funny while sharing John Steward especially!)

I did check out this You Tube to verify that the facts were as presented, as I said before. Many You Tube videos are just nonsense and if they are going to be used as news then should be verified before using as a News item. The Police Officer that made the stop felt certain that he "smelled" marijuana" but brought in a female officer to search the women for possible illegal drugs. I should think that if he felt that certain than he might have arrested them or asked them to follow him to the office and then request a search, at which time they could have asked for an attorney. On an open highway it is unreasonable to expect people to get immediate legal help, and equally unreasonable to perform a "body cavity" search.

I have signed the petition and do hope that I am wrong about how this case will fair in Texas.

Had to watch this twice to be sure of the full content, unbelievable invasion of privacy not to mention criminal intent as one officer acted on the advice of another cop where was the watch commander was he informed before the fact, doubt it. then there is the fact that both women were molested on a public road which is an other strike against both cops & the state THAT GLOVE ACTION will turn out to be more famous than the glove in the O.J. CASE I bet they will be cut loose by their bosses and I hope there is an private action taking against them along with suing the state of Texas. take a bow Texas you have certainly done your part in the abuse of Womens rights.

Thursday January 17, 2013, 2:00 pm
This is so absolutely disgusting and a total violation of their rights imo. I had seen this video a few days ago and on something. Absolutely horrible. I hope they sue the pants off of somebody.

I don't care if these woman had a pound of the stuff in every orifice! How can this kind of invasion be justified in the name of this god damn drug war!? How does the chance of finding a joint warrant this kind of treatment!? This takes NYPD's 'stop and frisk' policy to obscene levels, and we have let it!. How can we be letting this happen? We are ALL guilty for not speaking up to the countless abuses to our civil rights that occur every single day in this insane war on marijuana!

Thursday January 17, 2013, 5:10 pm
Are we liking our Fascism yet?????? This so sickens and disgusts me that it makes my chest hurt. How low can Texas go? You're lookin' at it and reading it, peeps. Dawg, I HATE existing here!!!!!!!!!

Thursday January 17, 2013, 5:25 pm
This is disgusting behaviour, especially considering the position of trust their profession is supposed to have. Who the hell do they think they are, I hope they get a women judge.

Thursday January 17, 2013, 5:32 pm
Vanessa, just because it is a woman Judge doesn't mean she'll be more understanding. After all it is a woman who failed to change her gloves after doing a cavity search in one and went right to the other woman. Doesn't seem to be at all strange to her to be doing this at all on the side of the road either. But I'm glad this case is having the light shown upon it, is the only way to get these things tempered back is to expose the light to it.

Terrie hon, I wish there was something I could do for you as I certainly would do it.

Thursday January 17, 2013, 6:04 pm
Downright criminal...The possible "smell of marijuana" was an excuse to go beyond into sexual territory...This type of behavior is a power trip. The Jersey shore has dozens of law suits on tap for the days after the storm. Some cops were violent, threatening and abusive. Had seen on fb. Thanx Sheryl...

Saturday January 19, 2013, 11:13 am
So,give them a fine for littering,than.This is bullsh*t.This govt will continue to violate our rights and our privacy until we do something.And no,asking nicely won't work anymore.

Saturday January 19, 2013, 2:34 pm
If this was a scene from Reno 911 it would be a great spoof. A cop that could spot a cigarette tossed out of a car at night, plus following the car for several minutes/miles...sounds like a stalker. He did have the brains to call for a female backup, so he could............."watch"
A body cavity search for marihuana? He and his partner would be doing nothing but these searches if he moved up here to California. How many "pounds" of weed did he think they could hide in a vagina? Was she looking for a hemp tampon?

Tuesday January 22, 2013, 6:03 pm
I saw this on the news and after being outraged I realized I was not surprised.

This reminds me of am event I had back in 1998. I was driving home to NY to visit family after just moving to AZ. I had an extended van that moved me and since it was my only vehicle, a friend of mine, with her daughter and my 9 month old rottie puppy decided to drive home to see our families. First, we were in the panhandle and I saw AT LEAST 8 people pulled over. i WAS NOT SPEEDING. I OF COURSE got pulled over and was accused of transporting drugs from AZ to wherever I was supposedly going. They didnt believe my girlfriend and I both grew up in NY and were going to visit. They THREATENED to shoot my PUPPY for coming to see what was going on, then they made us get out and called in 5 other cars and drug dogs, while my friend and her daughter sat in a cop car crying hysterically and I sat on the side of the road with my dog watching and LAUGHING MY ASS OFF. I did get a damn speeding ticket and had to go to court on my way home to fight it. THATS TEXAS. To think I considered moving there??

Now this situation?? OH HELL NO!! NO ONE would have touched my ANYTHING. They would have had to body slam me to cuff me after i went beserk, then i would claim RAPE because thats WHAT IT WAS. THEY RAPED THESE WOMEN IN FRONT OF THE WORLD. THAT was so far out of line!!
I hope these women DRAIN the state and those cops go to jail and we ALL know what happens to cops in prison..BUT THEN AGAIN, its Texas. They have their own rules...

Tuesday January 22, 2013, 6:11 pm
Sorry for your horrific experience. It gets so one doesn't want to travel out of their neighborhood. Glad the puppy did not get shot, that happens too frequently as well.

I certainly hope that the women win in a big way too. Seems the only time things stop is when you hit them in the pocketbook.

Thursday August 8, 2013, 7:24 am
I gave you the green star as I realized with the capital letters and the way you wrote you were very agitated and upset over this. For far too long too many in the general public have meekly sat back and allowed this to go on in their States and Country and have failed to speak up and say, this is wrong.

We have allowed our Police Force to become too militarized under the guise of security and safety while at the same time the former PROTECT and SERVE has gone out the window. The War on Drugs that is actually a war upon the citizens has created many situations that would of not have happened in combination with the Patriot Act after 9-11.

This has made the "Perfect Storm" of turning the citizen into being guilty first and a terrorist first. Women in many wars tend to be victims of men who are "charged up"......check out any Country in a war and many women are sexually attacked as it is also being reported this is being done to our female soldiers as well.

So I appreciate someone who stands up and realizes.......this is wrong in this Country in fact is wrong in any Country. But as a citizen of the USA we MUST bring this back to a more humane place when all citizens are treated with respect and proper procedures are followed.

Sometimes, as you did, one has to POINT IT OUT BOLDLY.

The sleeping, those still in a fog of not yet clearly "seeing" sometimes has to have a wind of even harsh air to blow away the debris to finally SEE what is front of their eyes. Thank you for checking out this story and for having a "feeling Heart."